A qualified dog behaviour practitioner from Dunfermline has set up his own dog training and behaviour company.

Scott Candlish has launched Ghost Force K9 Ltd with his business partner after retiring from the military.

He has numerous qualifications including GODT (MT) Guild of Dog Trainers Master Trainer, CIDBT Adv. H Cert (Cambridge) and MCFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour Association) of which there is only five in Scotland.

Ghost Force offers behaviour consultation, one-to-one in person sessions, focus days, and training, including puppy training.

Scott said: “We need to teach our dogs how to live with us instead of punishing them for displaying their natural behaviours.

“Everyone budgets for veterinary consultations and surgeries, but people never really budget for training.”

The behaviour modification programmes are based on information provided by the dog’s owner during a consultation, including Scott’s observations of the dog’s behaviour, and his recommendations to address the problematic canine behaviour. Training then starts immediately.

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Scott also spoke of the newly-introduced ban on XL bullies in Scotland. As previously reported in the Press, the Scottish Government is bringing in a ban on this breed in two stages, the first stage is currently in place. This means that all XL bullies must be muzzled and kept on a lead, and it is an offence to sell, give away, breed, or abandon one of these dogs.

“I feel the knee jerk reaction is we are blaming the dogs again, and this time it’s the XL Bully, last decade it was the Doberman," said Scott.

“We always, always point the finger at the dogs.”

Scott explained that the equipment that people use to train their dogs can create triggers for the animal. For example, a tight lead can become a trigger point, but this can be worked on with a loose lead and food can be used to positively enforce that.

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Training is the most effective part of management and bite prevention, and muzzle ‘conditioning’ is also important. There is also an assumption that castration can help with a canine’s behavioural problems.

However, Scott, who works with vets, said: “The evidence to support that castration is effective in behaviour change is somewhat lacking.”

Ghost Force is also currently working towards teaching in Queen Anne High School and being involved with the curriculum.

“Every dog’s different," he said. "They don’t speak English, so they don’t tell us about their history and how they feel.

"I look at the dog as an individual rather than rely on assumptions of pre-disposed behaviours. I look for the light in the darkness."